Fire control mechanism for automatic and semiautomatic firearms



March 15, 1949.

H. H. SEFRIED, 1]: FIRE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AUT OMATIC ANDSEMIAUTOMATIG FIREARMS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 2, 1948 &

Mar 1 1949- H. H. SEFRIED, ]I

FIRE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC AND SEMIAUTOMATIC FIREARMS 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1948 De 4 Q ll l I March 15, 1949. H. H.sEFRlED, 11 2,464,418

FIRE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC AND SEMIAUTOMATIC FIREARMS 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 2, 1948 lnuentor rtor'negs Patented Mar. 15,1949 FIRE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AUTO- MATIC AND SEMIAUTOMATIC FIRE- ARMSHarry H. Sefried, II, NewHaven, Conn., assignor to Olin Industries,Inc., New Haven, Conn, a

corporation of Delaware Application January 2, 1948, Serial No. 54

12 Claims.

1 The present invention relates to improvements in self-loading firearmsand relates more particularly to self-loading firearms of the type whichmay be manually set to operate either as a full automatic firearm or asemiautomatic firearm. In other words, the firearm of the presentinvention may be selectively set to automatically reload and repeatedlydischarge as long as the trigger is held in a retired or pulledposition, or to automatically load but require the operation. of thetrigger for each shot.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a superiorfire-control mechanism whereby a firearm will function selectivelyeither automatically or semiautomatically at the option of the user, andwhich possesses a high degree of reliability despite long use underadverse conditions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a superiorautomatic and semiautomatic firearm having a superior fire-controlmechanism of such character as will not only permit the selection ofautomatic or semiautomatic fire, but which will, in both instances,insure that the firing cannot be accomplished until such time as thebreech-bolt is fully closed and adequately locked.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a superiorfire-control mechanism which may be incorporated in a firearm of thewellknown Garand military type without requiring the extensive re-designthereof.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to thoseskilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includesall features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1a is a broken view of the central portion of an automatic andsemiautomatic firearm embodying the present invention, shown mainly inside elevation with the stock partly broken away and in verticalsection, the breech-bolt being shown in its fully closed position withthe selector-member and associated parts positioned in readiness tocause the firearm to operate semiautomatically;

Fig. lb is a broken View of the portion of the firearm immediatelyforwardly of the parts shown in Fig. 1a, with the stock shown partly insection and with the tubular front portion of the bolt-operating slidealso in section;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1a, except that the parts are shown inthe positions which they assume at the instant of firing;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1a and 2, but showing theselector-member shifted to enable the firearm to function as a fullautomatic firearm and with the trigger being shown in its pulledposition and the hammer being shown as held in a cooked position by thetertiary sear, and the breech-bolt and associated parts being shown inthe positions which they assume during the forward movement of thebreech-bolt and just prior to the latter reaching its breech-closingposition;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with the breech-bolt shown inits breech-closing position and locked therein and with the tertiarysear-bar in the position it assumes substantially at the instant ofreleasing the hammer;

Fig. 5 is a broken transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFig. 1a;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3,but leaving the receiver in elevation;

Fig. 7 is a broken sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3, butleaving the receiver in elevation;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the hammer detached;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the unit comprising the combined triggerand primary seararm and the secondary sear;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the tertiary sear detached;

Fig. 11 is a perspective View of the unit comprising selector-lever,sear-holding member and pivot-pin shown as assembled; and

Fig. 12 is a broken perspective view looking mainly toward the innerface of the rear portion of the bolt-operating slide.

The main features of the firearm illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings are of the well known "Garand type and comprising a receivergenerally designated by the reference character III, a barrel H, atrigger-plate generally designated by the reference character l2 and astock l3. The barrel I I projects rigidly forwardly from the forward endof the receiver I0, while the trigger-plate unit I2 is located generallybelow the receiver 10 in a manner usual in military firearms. The partsl0, II and I2 are suitably secured to the stock l3.

At its lower-rear portion, the trigger-plate unit 12 is formed with aloop-like trigger-guard l4 accommodating and shielding the finger-piece15 of a trigger generally designated by the refer- (mac character 'I 3.The said trigger I3 is mounted for pivotal movement upon a trigger-pin Hextending transversely of the firearm structure and supported at itsrespective opposite ends in the two spacedapart side-plates I3 and I3forming integral features of the trigger-plate unit II. as may be seenby reference to Figs. 6 and 7 in particular.

The trigger it projects upwardly substantially above the trigger-pin I1to provide a primary sear-arm 23. The said sear-arm 23 is provided atits upper-forward portion with a transverse cocking-lug 2| having anunderface shaped to provide what may be aptly termed a primarycocking-abutment 22. The said primary cockingabutment 22 is adapted tobe releasably engaged (Fig. 1a) with a complemental primarycockingabutment 23 formed at the forward-lower corner of a bifurcatedcocking-arm 24 constituting an integral extension of a firing-member inthe form of a pivotal-hammer 25. The cocking-arm 24, Just referred to,is bifurcated as just described to provide clearance for the upperportion of the primary sear-arm 23 when the hammer is in its cockedposition.

The hammer 25 above referred to is mounted for swinging movement about atransverselyextending hammer-pin 26 supported in the trigger-plate unitI2 and is urged to swing in a clockwise direction by a helicalhammer-spring 21. The said hammer-spring partly envelops and thrustsforwardly upon a plunger 23 which latter has its forward end engagedwith the said hammer. The hammer-spring 21 is mainly housed within andthrusts rearwardly upon a springhousing 29 having its rear end looselysupported upon the trigger-pin I1.

The hammer 25 when released to the action of the hammer-spring 21 isadapted to strike therear end of a firing-plunger 33 and drive the sameforwardly to discharge a cartridge in a manner well known in the art.The said firingplunger extends centrally through a breech-bolt 3I, whichlatter will be more fully hereinafter described.

In addition to its primary cocking-abutment 23, the cocking-arm 24 ofthe hammer 25 is formed at its lower-rear portion with a secondarycocking-abutment 32 which slopes upwardly and forwardly (when the hammer25 is cocked) and which extends transversely also along the lower-rearcorner of a cocking-lug 33 offsetting laterally toward the right side ofthe firearm from the lower-rear portion of the cocking-arm 24, as isespecially well shown in Fig. 8. The upper surface of the cocking-lug 23Just referred to provides a third or tertiary cocking-abutment 34 forpurposes as will hereinafter appear.

As thus constructed, the hammer 25 or equivalent flring-member isprovided with three cocking-abutments, i. e., the primarycocking-abutment 23, the secondary cocking-abutment 32 and and thetertiary cocking-abutment 34.

The secondary cocking-abutment 32 of the hammer 25 is adapted to bereleasably engaged by a secondary cocking-abutment 35 forming a featureof a secondary sear generally designated by the reference character 33.The forward-portion of the said secondary sear is bifurcated so as tofit over the primary sear-arm 23 of the trigger I6, as is indicated inFig. 9. The bifurcated forward portion of the secondary sear 33 erablyrounded as is shown, to provide a thrustnose 33 extending forwardly ofthe front face of the scar-arm 23 into position to be engaged by athrust-surface 33 at the rear of the spring-housing 23. The thrust-nose33 is located in such position with respect to the sear-pin 31 as tocause the rearward thrust of the spring-housing 23 to exert a yieldingeffort to turn the secondary sear in a clockwise direction with respectto the sear-arm 23 by which it is carried. Thus, the hammer-spring 21not only urges the said secondary sear to turn about the sear-pin 31 ina clockwise direction but it simultaneously urges the entire trigger I3to turn in a counterclockwise direction in opposition to the pull"applied to the finger-piece I3.

At its rear, the secondary sear 33 is formed with anupwardly-and-rearwardly-curving sear holding finger 43 which is adaptedto have its forward face engaged by the rear face of a sear-holdingfinger 4| forwardly-and-downwardly-curving from the upper portion of asear-holding member 42.

On its right side, the sear-holding member 42 is formed with anupwardly-facing ledge 43 against which is seated thelower end of aselector-lever 44 which may be conveniently formed of sheet metal andwhich is formed at its upper end with a finger-piece 45 extending into aposition for manipulation from the exterior of the firearm structure.Extending transversely through the lower portion of the selector-lever44 and the sear-holding member 42 is a pivotpin 43 supported (Fig. '1)at its respective opposite ends in the side plates I3 and I9 of thetriggerplate unit I2. The pivot-pin 43 in addition to providing for thepivotal movement of the unit comprising the sear-holding member 42 andthe selector-lever 44, also serves to hold the lower end of the saidselector -lever seated against the ledge 43 on the member 42 to thusrigidly couple the said parts together for concurrent swinging movement.

Inits lower portion, the sear-holding member 42 is provided with atransverse bore 41 in which is mounted on a helical detent-spring 43 andthe respective inner portions of two similar detentplungers 43-43, as isshown in Fig. 7. The said detent-plungers are urged outwardly inopposite directions respectively by the detent-spring 43 and intosuitable detent-pockets 53 and 5| according to the particular positioninto which the sear-holding member 42 is swung. The said detentplungers4343.thus serve to yieldingly hold the unit comprising the sear-holdingmember 42 and the selector-lever 44 in either of two 1 positions forpurposes as will hereinafter appear.

is pivotally mounted upon the sear-arm '23 by At its lower end thesear-holding member 42 is provided with a downwardly-extending guarding52 which is adapted to coact, in the manner as will hereinafter appear,with an upwardly-extending guard-lug 53 formed upon the trigger I3.

Coacting with the, tertiary cocking-abutment 34 of the hammer 25 is adownwardly-facing tertiary cocking-abutment 54 formed at the rear of asear-arm 55 constituting a feature of a tertiary sear, generallydesignated by the reference character 53.

The tertiary sear 53 may be conveniently formed of heavy-gauge sheetmetal and is generally of bar-like form adapted for reciprocationlengthwise of the receiver. I3 adjacent the right side thereof. Thedownwardly-extending seararm 55 is integrally connected to the mainportion of the tertiary sear by a reach 51 extending trans versely ofthe firearm structure so as tolocate the sear-arm 55 in position toenable the tertiary cocking-abutment 54 to engage with the tertiarycocking-abutment 34 of the hammer 25.

Adjacent its forward end, the tertiary sear 56 is provided with arearwardly-facing trippingabutment 5B and with an inwardly-extendingguide-pin 59, which latter rides in a slot 60 formed in the dependingside-wall portion SI of the receiver). The said depending side-wallportion is located forwardly of the trigger-plate unit, hammer andassociated features and provides for the accommodation and support of asuitable box-magazine indicated at 62..

The tertiary sear 56 has its forward end supported for limitedreciprocation lengthwise of the firearm structure by means of theguide-pin 59 and the slot 60. The rear portion of the said sear 56 issupported against downward displacement y having the lower edge of itssear-arm 55 slidably engaging with the upper surface of the righthandside-plate [9 of the trigger-plate unit l2.

For the purpose of yieldingly urging the tertiary sear 56 rearwardlyinto position to engage its tertiary cocking-abutment 54 with thetertiary cocking-abutment 34 of the hammer 25, a helical searspring 63is employed. The said sear-spring encircles a headed plunger 64 slidablein aguideopening 65 formed in the reach 51 of the sear 5B. Thesear-spring 63 has its rear end seated against the front face of thereach 51 and has its forward end seated against the head of the plunger64 so as to force the forward end of the said plunger in asuitable'recess formed in the rear edge of the side-wall portion 6! ofthe receiver Id.

The tripping-abutment 58 of the tertiary sear 56 is adapted to beengaged by a rearwardlyfacing tripping-abutment 66 located adjacent therear end and constituting a feature of a boltoperating slide or member8! mounted for reciprocation lengthwise of the firearm structure on theright side thereof. The said bolt-operating slide corresponds, in themain, to the member in the well-known Garand rifle and is commonlyreferred to in the nomenclature thereof as the transmitting-bar.

The breech-bolt 3! before referred to corresponds generally to thebreech-bolt of the wellknown Garand rifle and is provided on its rightside with a locking-lug 68 adapted to oscillate into and out ofengagement with a forwardly-facing locking-abutment 65 forming the rearwall of a clearance-notch 10 formed in the adjacent side wall of thereceiver it in a manner well understood in the art.

Extending outwardly from the forward portion of the locking-lug 68 ofthe breech-bolt 3! is an integral actuating-lug ll extending into acamrecess 72 in the inner face of the rear portion of the bolt-operatingslide 31.

The bolt-operating slide 61 is formed at its rear end with alaterally-projecting finger-piece 33 by means of which the firearm maybe manually operated.

In a manner well understood in the art, the cam-recess 12 in thebolt-operating slide 61 and the actuating-lug ll of the breech-bolt 3|are shaped to cooperate in such manner that when the said bolt-operatingslide is moved rearwardly from its normal forward position, thebreech-bolt 3| will be first turned so as to disengage the locking-lug68 thereof from the locking-abutment 69 of the receiver l0, whereuponthe said breechbolt will be moved directly rearwardly. The rearwardmovement of the breech-bolt, in a manner usual in firearms, wlllefiectthe extraction and ejection of the just-fired cartridge and the cockingof the hammer 25, which latter the said breech-bolt overrides.

Upon its forward stroke, the bolt-operated slide 61 will first draw thebreech-bolt 3| forwardly until the rear face of the locking-lug 68 ofthe said breech-bolt is in registration with the locking-abutment 69,whereupon the said breech-bolt will be turned to again lock thebreech-bolt in its forward or breech-closing positionall in the mannercommon in firearms. Force may be applied to eflect the rearward movementof the bolt-operating slide 61 and, hence, also of the breech-bolt 3!,in any suitable manner. In the instance shown, the actuatingmeans forthe said bolt-operating slide is the same as that employed in the Garandrifle and includes a tubular piston It rigid with the forward end of thesaid slide and located beneath the barrel H. The said tubular piston ithouses a helical breech-closing spring it which, in the i. usual manner,exerts a constant-but-yielding effort to hold the bolt-operating slide51 in its foremost position and, hence, serves to hold the breech-bolt3| in its forward breech-closed and locked position. Y

The upper edge of the tertiary sear 56 rides in a downwardly-openinggroove '76 formed in the right side Wall M of the receiver l0.

semiautomatic operation Let it be assumed for purposes of descriptionthat it is desired to have the firearm above described function as asemiautomatic firearm, i. e., automatically extract and eject just-fired'cartridges and reload but requiring the individual pulling of thetrigger for each desired shot.

Under the circumstances above referred to, the selector-lever will bemoved into the position in which it is shown in Figs. la and 2, togetherwith the seam-holding member 32- coupled thereto.

With the selector-lever set as above described, it may be assumed forpurposes of description and as is shown in Fig. 1a that the hammer 25 iscooked and the trigger I6 is released from rearward finger pressure.

In Fig. 1a, the hammer 25 is held in its cocked position by the primarycocking-abutment 22 of the primary sear-arm 20 of the trigger it, whileboth the secondary sear 3B and the tertiary sear 56 are in their retiredpo- .sitions.

Now when the trigger is pulled into the position in which it isindicated in Fig. 2, the primary cocking-abutment 22 will be retired andthe hammer 25 will be released to the action of the hammer-spring 2'!and will swing upwardly into the position in which it is shown in Fig.2, to thereby strike the firing-plunger 30 and thus effect the dischargeof the firearm.

Substantially instantaneously with the above action, energy from thejust-fired cartridge will kick the bolt-operating slide 6'! rearwardlyin a manner well known in the art and as exemplified, for instance, inthe well-known Garand military firearm.

The rearward movement of the bolt-operating slide 61 as just abovereferred to, will by virtue of the coaction between its cam-recess l2and the actuating-lug I of the breech-bolt 3|, first cause the saidbreech-bolt to be oscillated laterally to unlock the same, as previouslydescribed, and to subsequently move the said shown as being 7breech-bolt rearwardly to eifect the extraction and ejection of theJust-fired cartridge in a manner common in automatic and semiautomaticfirearms.

As the breech-bolt II is moved rearwardly as above described, the hammer25 will be swung in a counterclockwise direction by the overridingaction of the rear portion of the breech-bolt 3 l and should the triggerl5 still be held pulled during such movement (which is normal), the saidhammer will be caught and temporarily held in a cooked position by theengagement of its secondary cocking-abutment 32 with the secondarycocking-abutment 35 of the secondary sear 33, which latter will at thistime be'in its advanced position, as is shown in Fig. 2. As soon,however, as the trigger is released, the hammer will be released by thesaid secondary scar and will be caught by the primary cocking-abutment22 of the trigger so that the parts just referred to will again assumethe positions in which they are shown in Fig. la.

After completing its rearward travel, the

' breech-bolt 3| will be drawn forwardly by the return movement of thebolt-operating slide 51 which latter will act under the urge of thebreech-closing spring (Fig. 1b)

During its forward travel, the breech-bolt 3| will pick up a freshcartridge in the manner usual in self-loading firearms and will insertsuch fresh cartridge into the cartridge-chamber of the firearm. When inthe forward travel of the breech-bolt 3|, its locking-lug 68 is broughtinto registry with the locking-abutment 69 of the receiver Hi, thebreech-bolt will be turned laterally and restored to the fully-lockedposition indicated in Figs. la and ,2.

The final forward movement of the bolt-operating slide 51 (following theclosing and locking of the breech-bolt) will engage itstripping-abutment 65 with the tripping-abutment 58 and then shift thetertiary sear 56 forwardly against the tension of the sear-spring 53.This action will shift the tertiary cocking-abutment 54 of the saidtertiary sear forwardly out of the path of movement of the tertiarycocking-abutment 34 of the hammer 25.

The mechanism will now be in the position indicated in Fig. 1a,preparatory to another discharge of the firearm and the subsequentautomatic reloading thereof as soon as the fingerpiece 15 of the triggerI6 is pulled rearwardly.

It will be noted by reference to Figs. la and 2 I that when theselector-lever 44 and its .unitary sear-holding member 42 are in thepositions in which they are shown in the said figures, the guard-lug 52of the member 42 is located forwardly and in a clearance position withrespect to the complemental guard-lug 53 of the trigger I 6. Hence, asthe trigger is pulled, the guardlug 53 will ride upwardly to the rear ofthe guarding 52 without interference. The construction and arrangement,however, is such that the coaction of the guard-lugs 52 and 53 willprevent the selector-lever 44 from being shifted until such time as thetrigger is released.

Fully-automatic operation Let it now be assumed that it is desired tohave the firearm function as a fully-automatic weapon, 1. e., effect thecontinuous discharge of cartridges as long as the trigger is held in itspulled position.

To accomplish the purpose above referred to,

. 3 the selector-lever 44 and its unitary sear-holding member 42 may bemanually shifted from the positions in which they are shown in Figs. 1and 2 into the positions in which they are shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The movement of the sear-holding member 42 above described will causeits downwardly-extending sear-holding finger 4i to hook itself in frontof the complemental sear-holding finger 43 of the secondary sear 38, tothus restrain the secondary cocking-abutment 35 of the latter fromswinging forwardly into anactive position when the primary sear-arm 20of the trigger II is moved forwardly by rearward draft upon thefinger-piece l5, all in a manner as will hereinafter appear.

In Fig. 3, the trigger I6 is shown as pulled and the breech-bolt isshown as approaching its breech-closing position following a previousdischarge of the firearm. With the trigger pulled as just abovedescribed, it will be noted by reference to Fig. 3 that the coaction ofthe two searholding fingers 40 and 4| serves to maintain the secondarycocking-abutment 35 of the secondary sear 36 out of the path of movementof the secondary cocking-abutment 32 of the hammer 25, so that, ineffect the said secondary sear is rendered inoperative.

Since at this time the trigger I6 is pulled, its primarycocking-abutment 22 will also be retired out of the path of movement ofthe primary cocking-abutment 23 of the hammer 25. Thus, under thepresent conditions, both the primary cockingabutment 22 and thesecondary cocking-abutment 35 are retired, thus leaving the cocking ofthe hammer 25 or its equivalent entirely dependent upon the engagementof the tertiary cockingabutment 54 of the tertiary sear 55 with thetertiary cocking-abutment 34 of the hammer, as is indicated in Fig. 3.

After the forward'movement of the bolt-operating slide 61 (under theurge of the breech-closing spring 15) has effected the locking of thebreech-bolt 3| in its breech-closing position, the continued forwardmovement of the said boltoperating slide will engage itstripping-abutment 58 with the tripping-abutment 58 of the tertiary sear55. The action last referred to will cause the tertiary sear to be movedforwardly against the counter-urge of its sear-spring 63, to therebyremove the tertiary cocking-abutment 54 of the said sear out of the pathof movement of the tertiary cocking-abutment 34 of the hammer 25, tothus release the hammer and permit the discharge of the firearm. In Fig.4,'the tertiary sear 56 is shown as moved forwardly in the manner Justabove described to an extent necessary to bring its tertiarycocking-abutment 56 substantially into the position which it wouldassume at the instant of the disengagement of the latter from thetertiary cocking-abutment 34 of the hammer.

As long as the trigger I6 is held pulled and as long as the ammunitionlasts, the firearm will' 3| has been fully closed and locked, whereuponRsum From the foregoing description and by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, it will be seen that the construction and arrangement of partsis such that the selector-lever 44 or its equivalent is effectivelyprevented from being shifted as long as the trigger I6 is held pulled.

It will be further apparent that when the firearm is set to function asa semiautomatic firearm, both the secondary cocking-abutment 35 and theprimary cocking-abutment 22 are brought into play to sequentiallyreleasably hold the hammer in its cocked position. Meanwhile, however,and in each instance, the tertiary cocking-abutment 54 will be in aguard position to prevent the accidental discharge of the firearm untilsuch time as the breech-bolt 3| is fully in its breechclosing positionand locked therein.

It will also be apparent from the foregoing? and by reference to theaccompanying drawings that when the selector-lever 44 is shifted tocause the firearm to function as a fully-automatic firearm, thesecondary sear 36 is rendered inoperative and as long as the trigger i6is held pulled (as would normally be the case to eflect full automaticfire) the entire task of holding the hammer 25 in its cocked positiondevolves upon the tertiary sear 56. It is to be understood, however,that at any time during the full automatic operation of the firearm itis desired to cease fire, the release of rearward draft upon thefinger-piece KB of the trigger IE will restore the primarycocking-abutment 22 of the primary sear-arm into position Where it Wllreleasably hold the hammer in a cocked position by engagement with theprimary cocking-abutment 23 of the said hammer.

By the unique combination and arrangement of parts above described, aself loading firearm may be selectively caused to function either as asemiautomatic or fully-automatic firearm in a manner wh ch is simple,reliable and effective, despite rough handlin and long periods of use.

The inven ion may be carried out in other specific ways than thoseherein set forth without departing from the sp rit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention. and the resent embodiments are.therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrat ve and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. An automatic and semiautomatic firearm, including in comb nation: areceiver; a unit comprising a breech-bolt movable in the said receiverand a bolt-operating member mounted for movement adjacent the saidreceiver and operatively connected to the said breech-bolt for movingthe same; a spring-pressed firing-member provided with a primarycocking-abutment, a secondary cocking-abutment and a tertiarycocking-abutment; a trigger; a primary sear operatively associated withthe said trigger for being moved thereby and having a primarycocking-abutment releasably engageable with the primary'cockingabutmentof the said firing-member when the said trigger is released; a secondarysear having a secondary cocking-abutment normally releasably engageablewith the secondary cocking-abutment of the said firing-'member when thesaid trigger is pulled and movable with respect to the said trigger forbeing held in a retired position; a tertiary sear having a tertiarycocking-abutment releasably engageable with the tertiary cockingabutmentof the said firing-member; manuallyoperable control-means engageablewith the said secondary sear for releasably holding the same in aretired position; means operatively connecting the said secondary searto the said trigger to effect the movement of the former by the latter,the said means including a spring yieldingly urging the secondarycocking-abutment of the said secondary sear into position for releasableengagement with the secondary cocking-abutment of the said firing-memberand permitting the relative movement of the secondary sear in theopposite direction; and means actuated by the said unit to retire thesaid tertiary sear as the said breechbolt moves into its breech-closingposition.

2. An automatic and semiautomatic firearm,

including in combination: a'receiver; a breechbolt movable in the saidreceiver; a bolt-operating member mounted for movement adjacent the saidreceiver and operatively connected to the said breech-bolt for movingthe same; a spring-pressed firing-member provided with a primarycockingabutment, a secondary cocking-abutment and a tiary cockingabutment releasably engageable sear operatively associated with the saidtrigger for being moved thereby and having a primary cocking-abutmentreleasably engageable with the primary cocking-abutment of the saidfiringmember when the said trigger is released; a secondary sear havinga secondary cocking-abutment normally releasably engageable with thesecondary cocking-abutment of the said firingmember when the saidtrigger is pulled and movable with respect to the said trigger for beingheld in a retired pos tion; a tertiary sear having a tertiarycocking-abutment releasably engageable with the'tertiarycocking-abutment of the said firing-member; manually-operablecontrolmeans engageable with the said secondary sear for releasablyholding the same in a retired position; means operatively connecting thesaid secondary sear to the said tr gger to effect the movement of theformer by the lat er the said means including a spring yielding y urgingte secondary cocking-abutment of the sa d secondary sear into positionfor releasable engagement with the secondary cocking-abutment of thesaid firingmember and permitting the relativemovement of the secondarysear in the 0pp0=ite d rection; and means arried by the saidbolt-operating member to retire the said tertiary sear as the saidbreech-bolt moves into its breech-closing position.

3. An automatic and semiautomatic firearm, including in comb nation: arece ver; a unit comprising a breech-bolt movable in the said receiverand a bolt-operating member mounted for movement adiacent the saidreceiver and operatively connected to the said breech-bolt for movingthe same; a spring-pressed firing-member provided with a primarycocking-abutment, a secondary cocking-abutment and a tertiarycocking-abutment; a trigger; a primary sear operatively associated withthe' said trigger for being moved thereby and having a primarycocking-abutment 'and movable with position to retire the said Isemiautomatic firearm,

ll releasably engageable with the primary cockingabutment of the saidfiring-member when the said trigger is released: a secondary sear havinga secondary cocking-abutment normally releasably engageable with thesecondary cockingabutment or the said said trigger is pulled and movablewith respect to the said trigger for being held in a-retired position; atertiary sear having a tripping-abutment and a tertiary cocking-abutmentreleasably engageable with the tertiary cocking-abutment of the saidfiring-member; manually-operable control-means engageable with the saidsecondary sear for releasably holding the same in a retired position;means operatively connecting the said secondary sear to the saidtriggerto eflect the movement of the former by the latter, the said meansincluding a spring yieldingly urging the secondary cocking-abutment oithe said secondary ar into position iorreleasable engagement with thesecondary cocking-abutment of the said firingmember and permitting therelative movement of the secondary sear in the opposite direction; and

firing-member when the ment; atriggenaprimarysearrigidwiththe saidtrigger for movement therewith and having ary cocking-abutmentengageable with the primary cocking-abutment oi the I said firing-memberwhen the said trigger is rev i'or releasably holding the same inincluding a a tripping-abutment carried by the said unit and engageablewith the tripping-abutment oi the said tertiary sear as the saidbreech-bolt moves into its breech-clodng position to retire the saidtertiary sear.

4. An automatic and including in combination; a receiver; a breechboitmovable in the said receiver; a bolt-operating member mounted formovement adjacent the said receiver and operativelyconnected to the saidbreech-bolt for moving the same; a springpressed firing-member providedwith a primary cocking-abutment, a secondary cocking-abutment and atertiary cocking-abutment; a trigger; a primary sear operativelyassociated with the said trigger for being moved thereby and having aprimary able with the primary cocking-abutment oi the said firing-memberwhen the said trig er is released; a cocking-abutment normallyreleasably engageable with the secondary cocking-abutment of the saidtiring-member when the said trigger is pulled respect to the saidtrigger for being held'in a retired position; a tertiary sear having atripping-abutment and a teritary cocking-abutment releasably engageablewith the tertiary cocking-abutment of the said i'iringmember;manually-operable control-means engageable with the said secondary searfor releasably holding the same in a retired position; means operativelyconnecting the said secondary sear to the said trigger to effect themovement of the former by the latter, the said means including a springyieldingly urging the secondary cocking-abutment or the said secondaryseal into position for releasable enga ement with the second-- of thesaid firing-member ary cocking-abutment and permitting the relativemovement of the secondary sear in the opposite direction; and asemiautomatic firearm, I

cocking-abutment releasably engage-' retired position;

tripping-abutment carried by thesaid .bolt-.

operating member and engageable with the tripping-abutment oi the .saidtertiary sear asthe said breech-bolt moves into its breech-closingtertiary sear.

8. An automatic and including in combination: a receiver; a unitcomprising a breech-bolt movable in the said receiver and abolt-operating member mounted. for move-v ment adjacent the saidreceiver and operatively connected to the said breech-bolt for movingthe same: a spring-pressed firing-member provided leased; secondary searyieldingly carried by the saidtrigger and havin a secondarycockingnormally releasably engageable with secondary cocking-abutment oithe said firing-member when the said trigger is pulled and movable withrespect to the said trigger for being held in-a retired position; atertiary sear having a tertiary. cocking-abutment releasably engageablewith the tertiary cocking-abutment or the said firing-member;manually-operable controlmeans engageabie with the said sear a retiredposition; means operatively connecting the said secondary sear to thesaid trigger to eilect the movement 0! the iormer by the latter, thesaid means ary cocking-abutment oi the said secondary sear into positionfor releasable engagement with the secondary cocking-abutment oi thesaid firingmember and permitting the relative movement of the secondarysear in the opposite direction; and means actuated by the said unit toretire the said tertiary sear as the said breech-bolt moves into itsbreech-closing position.

8. An automatic and semiautomatic firearm, including in combination: areceiver; a breechbolt movable in the said ing member mounted formovement adjacent the said receiver and operatively connected to thesaid breech-bolt for moving the same; a spring pressed firing-memberprovided with a prim ry cocking-abutment. a secondary cocking-abutmentand a tertiary cocking-abutment; a trigger; a primary sear rigid withthe said trigger for movement therewith and having a primarycocking-abutment primary cocking-abutment of member when the saidtrigger ondary sear yieldingl carried by the said triggerand having asecondary cocking-abutment normally releasably engageable with thesecondary cocking-abutment oi the said firing-member when the saidtrigger .is pulled and movable with respect to the said trigger for thesaid firingis released; a seca tertiary sear having a tertiarycocking-abutment releasably n ageable with the tertiary cocking-abutmentof th said firing member; manually operable controlmeans engageable withthe said secondary sear for releasably holding the same in a retiredposition; means operatively connecting the said secondary sear to thesaid trigger to eflect the movement oi the former by the latter, thesaid means including a spring yieldingly urging the secondarycocking-abutmentot the said secondary sear into position forreleasable-engagement with the secondary cocking-abutment oi the saidfiringmember and permitting vthe relative movement of the secondar searin the opposite direction; and means carried by the said bolt-operatingmember to retire the said tertiary sear as the said breech-bolt movesinto its breech-closing positiqn. H

7. An automatic and semiautomatic firearm, including in combination: areceiver; a unit comprising a breech-bolt movablein the said receiverand a bolt-operating member mounted for movement adjacent the saidreceiver and operspring yieldingly'urging the secondreceiver; abolt-operatreleasably engageable with the.

beingheldina.

atively connected to the said breech-bolt for moving the same; aspring-pressed firing-member provided with a primary cocking-abutment, asecondary cocking-abutment and a tertiary cocking-abutment; a trigger; aprimary sear rigid with the said trigger for movement therewith andhaving a primary cocking-abutment releasably engageable with the primarycocking-abutment of the said firing-member when the said trigger isreleased; a secondar sear yieldingly carried by the said trigger andhaving a secondary cocking-abutment normally releasably engageable withthe secondary cocking-abutment of the said firing-member when the saidtrigger is pulled and movable with respect to the said trigger for beingheld in a retired position; a tertiary sear having a tripping-abutmentand a tertiary cocking-abutment releasably engageable with the tertiarycocking-abutment of the said firing-member; manually-operablecontrol-means engageable with the said secondary sear for releasablyholding the same in a retired position; means operatively connecting thesaid secondary sear to the said trigger to efiect the movement of theformer by the latter, the said means including a spring yieldinglyurging the secondary cockingabutment of the said secondary sear intoposition for releasable engagement with the secondary cocking-abutmentof the said firing-member and permitting the relative movement of thesecondary sear in the opposite direction; and a trippingabutment carriedby the said unit and engageable with the tripping-abutment of the saidtertiary sear as the said breech-bolt moves into its breech-closingposition to retire the said tertiary sear.

8. An automatic and semiautomatic firearm, including in combination: areceiver; a breechbolt movable in the said receiver; a bolt-operatingmember mounted for movement adjacent the said receiver and operativelyconnected to the said breech-bolt for moving the same; a springpressedfiring-member provided with a primary cocking-abutment, a secondarycocking-abutment and a tertiary cocking-abutment; a trigger; a primarysear rigid with the said trigger for movement therewith and having aprimary cocking-abutment releasably engageable with the primarycocking-abutment of the said firing-member when the said trigger isreleased; a secondary sear yieldingly carried by the said trigger andhaving a secondary cocking-abutment normally releasably engageable withthe secondary cocking-abutment of the said firing-member when the saidtrigger is pulled and movable with respect to the said trigger for beingheld in a retired position; a tertiary sear having a trippingabutmentand a tertiary cocking-abutment re-' leasably engageable with thetertiary cockingabutment of the said firing-member; manuallyoperablecontrol-means engageable with the said secondary sear for releasablyholding the same in a retired position; means operatively connecting thesaid secondary sear to the said trigger to efiect the movement of theformer by the latter, the said means including a spring yieldinglyurging the secondary cocking-abutment of the said secondary sear intoposition for releasable engagment with the secondary cocking-abutment ofthe said firing-member and permitting the relative movement of thesecondary sear in the opposite direction; and a tripping-abutmentcarried by the said bolt-operating member and engageable with thetripping-abutment of the said tertiary sear as the said breech-boltmoves into its breech-closing position to retire the said tertiary sear.i

9.An automatic and semiautomatic firearm, including in combination: areceiver; a unit comprising a breech-bolt movable in the said receiverand a reciprocating bolt-operating slide mounted for reciprocationadjacent the said receiver and operatively connected to the saidbreech-bolt for moving the same; a spring-pressed firing-member providedwith a primary cocking-abutment, a secondary cocking-abutment and atertiary cocking-abutment; a trigger; a primary sear operativelyassociated with the said trigger for being moved thereby and having aprimary cockingabutment releasably engageable with the primarycocking-abutment of the said firing-member when the said trigger isreleased; a pivotal secondary sear having a secondary cocking-abutmentnormally releasably engageable with the secondary cocking-abutment ofthe said firingrnember when the said trigger is pulled and movable withrespect to the said trigger for being held in a retired position; areciprocating tertiary sear having a tertiary cocking-abutmentreleasably engageable with the tertiary cocking-abutment of the saidfiring-member; manuallyoperable control-means engageable with the saidsecondary sear for releasably holding the same in a retired position;means operatively connecting the said secondary sear to the said triggerto effect the movement of the former by the latter, the said meansincluding a spring yieldingly urging the secondary cocking-abutment ofthe said secondary sear into position for releasable engagement with thesecondary cocking-abutment of the said firing-member and permitting therelative movement of the secondary sear in the opposite direction; andmeans actuated by the said unit to retire the said tertiary sear as thesaid breech-bolt moves into its breech-closing position.

10. An automatic and semiautomatic firearm, including in combination: areceiver; a breechbolt movable in the said receiver; a reciprocatingbolt-operating slide mounted for reciprocation adjacent the saidreceiver and operatively connected to the said breech-bolt for movingthe same; a spring-pressed firing-member provided with a primarycocking-abutment, a secondary cocking-abutment and a tertiarycocking-abut? ment; a trigger; a primary sear operatively associatedwith the said trigger for being moved thereby and having a primarycocking-abutment releasably engageable with the primary cockingabutmentof the said firing-member when the said trigger is released; a pivotalsecondary sear having a secondary cocking-abutment normally releasablyengageable with the secondary cocking-abutment of the said firing-memberwhen the said trigger is pulled and movable with respect to the saidtrigger for being held in a retired position; a reciprocating tertiarysear having a tertiary cocking-abutment releasably engageable with thetertiary cocking-abutment of the said firing-member; manually-operablecontrol-means engageable with the said secondary sear for releasablyholding the same in a retired position; means operatively connecting thesaid secondary sear to the said trigger to efiect the movement of theformer by the latter, the said means including a spring yieldinglyurging the secondary cocking-abutment oi the said secondary sear intoposition for releasable engagement with the secondary cocking-abutmentof the said firing-member and permitting the relative move- 15 ment ofthe secondary sear in the-opposite direction; and means carried by thesaid bolt-operating slide to retire the said tertiary sear as the saidbreech-bolt moves into its breech-closing position.

11. An automatic and semiautomatic firearm, including in combination: areceiver; a unit comprising a breech-bolt movable in the said receiverand a reciprocating bolt-operating slide mounted for reciprocationadjacent the said receiver and operatively connected to the saidbreech-bolt for moving the same; a spring-pressed firing-member providedwith a primary cocking-abutment, a secondary cocking-abutment and atertiary cocking-abutment; a trigger; a primary sear rigid with the saidtrigger for movement therewith and having a primary cocking-abutmentreleasably engageable with the primary cocking-abutment of saidfiring-member when the said trigger is released; a pivotal secondarysear yieldingly carried by the said trigger and having a secondarycocking-abutment normally releasably engageable with the secondarycocking-abutment of the said firing-member when the said trigger ispulled and movable with respect to the said trigger for being held in aretired position; a reciprocating tertiary sear having arearwardlyfacing tripping-abutment and a tertiary cockingabutmentreleasably engageable with the tertiaiy cocking-abutment of the saidfiring-member; manually-operable control-means engageable with the saidsecondary sear for releasably holding the same in a retired position;means operatively connecting the said secondary sear to the said triggerto effect the movement of the former by the latter, the said meansincluding a spring yieldingly urging the secondary cockingabutment ofthe said secondary sear into position for releasable engagement with thesecondary cocking-abutment of the said firingmember and permitting therelative movement of the secondary sear in the opposite direction;- anda forwardly-facing tripping-abutment carried by the said unit andengageable with the rearwardly-facing tripping-abutment of the saidtertiary sear as the said breech-bolt moves into its breech-closingposition to retire the said tertiary sear.

12. An automatic and semiautomatic firearm, including in combination: areceiver; a breech- .bolt movable in the said receiver; a reciprocatsaidtrigger for movement therewith and hav-- ing a primary cocking-abutmentreleasably engageable with the primary cocking-abutment of the saidfiring-member when the said trigger is released; a pivotal secondarysear yieldingly carried by the said trigger and having a secondarycocking-abutment normally releasably engageable with the secondarycocking-abutment of the said firing-member when the said trigger ispulled and movable with respect to the said trigger for being held in aretired position; a reciprocating tertiary sear having arearwardlyfacing tripping-abutment and a tertiary cockingabutmentreleasably engageable with the tertiary cocking-abutment of the saidfiring-member; manually operable control means engageable with the saidsecondary sear for releasably holding the same in a retired position;means operatively connecting the said secondary sear to the said triggerto effect the movement of the former by the latter, the said meansincluding a spring yieldingly urging the secondary cockingabutment ofthe said secondary sear into position for releasable engagement with thesecondary cocking-abutment of the said firingmember and permitting therelative movement of the secondary sear in the opposite direction; and aforwardly-facing tripping-abutment carried by the said bolt-operatingslide and engageable with the rearwardly-facing trippingabutment of thesaid tertiary sear as the said breechbolt moves into its breech-closingposition to retire the said tertiar sear.

HARRY H. SEF'RIED, II.

No references cited.

